Electrical outlet device for rotatable elevativable chair



R. w. SANDS 3,246,277

CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A x -il 12, 1966 ELECTRICAL OUTLET DEVICE FORROTATABLE ELEVA'I'ABLE Filed June 4, 1962 s E 2 B FIG. I

INVENTOR. RONALD w SANDS ATTORNEY April 12, 1966 ELECTRICAL OUTLET FiledJune 4, 1962 n FIG.

jg 8 8m R. W. SANDS DEVICE FOR ROTATABLE ELEVATABLE CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet2 IN VEN TOR.

RONALD W. SANDS ATTORNEY p 1966 R. w. SANDS 3,246,277

ELECTRICAL OUTLET DEVICE FOR ROTATABLE ELEVATABLE CHAIR Filed June 4,1962 FIG. 8

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. I: I

I40 FIG. I0

INVENTOR. RONALD W. SANDS ATTORNEY A ril 12, 1966 R. w. SANDS 3,2

ELECTRICAL OUTLET DEVICE FOR ROTATABLE ELEVATABLE CHAIR Filed June 4,1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. RONALD W. SANDS BY 1%. M

ATTORNEY A ril 12, 1966 R. w. SANDS 3,

ELECTRICAL OUTLET DEVICE FOR ROTATABLE ELEVATABLE CHAIR Filed June 4,1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. I8

317 3I9 FIG. 22 FIG'ZI 2 INVENTOR RONALD W. SANDS ATTORNEY United StatesPatent 3,246,277 ELECTRICAL OUTLET DEVICE FOR RGTA'IABLE ELEVATABLECHAIR Ronald W. Sands, 2111 E. Dayton St., Madison, Wis. Filed June 41962, Ser. No. 199,699 20 Claims. 3!. 339-5) This invention relates tothe combination of an electrical outlet device with an elevatablerotatable chair and more particularly to the combination with a barberschair of means to provide an electrical outlet on a rotatable elevatableportion, thereof which may be easily and quickly attached to or detachedfrom the chair.

Devices heretofore proposed for providing electrical current to anelectrical outlet or other electrical device attached to the seat backor other portion of a rotatable elevatable barbers chair have been ofsuch nature that it, is relatively difiicult to attach them to such achair which has already been installed so that it has been necessary toprovide them as part of the chair at the time the chair is originallymanufactured.

Itis therefore an object of my invention to provide means for supplyingelectrical current to an electrical outlet attached to the rotatableelevatable portion of a barbers chair.

v Another object is to provide such means that may be readily attachedto and detached from such a chair.

Another object is to provide such a device which may be readily attachedto and detached from such a chair, wherein the device comprisescollector rings attached to the base of the chair or -to the elevatablerotatable portion of the chair and contact members to contact saidrings.

Another object is such device wherein the collecting ring surfaces facedownwardly and the contact members are u'rgedupwardly thereagainst tominimize the adverse effect of loose hair resulting from hair cuttings.

Other objects will become apparent from the drawings and from thefollowing detailed description in which it is intended to illustrate theapplicability of the invention without thereby limiting its scope toless than that of all equivalents which will be apparent to one skilledin the art. In the drawings like reference numeral refer to like partsand:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the deviceof FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3-7 are fragmentary cross-sectional views showing modificationsof collector rings, mounting member and ring contacting means;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view from below of a modified form of collector ringcarrying member showing modified means for contacting the collectorrings with rollers;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the embodiment ofFIGURE 8;

FIGURE 9a is a blown-up cross-sectional fragmentary view of the wiresleading from the contacting device in FIGURE 9, taken at 9a therein;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modification of theembodiment of FIGURE 1 showing modified means for providing connectionof electrically conducting members to the embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 9;

FIGURE 11 is a view corresponding to that of FIG- URE 10 showing theembodiment of FIGURE 10 in a different position;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modification of theembodiments of FIGURES 8 and 9;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modification of theembodiment of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of 3,246,277 PatentedApr. 1 2, 1966 a further modification of the embodiments of FIGURES 8,9, 12 and 13 wherein rollers are not used and wherein connection theretois provided in the manner shown in FIGURES 10 and 11;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modification of theembodiment of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a further modifiedembodiment in which connection thereto is provided by the means shown inFIGURES 10 and 7 FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of amodification of the embodiment of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View of a modification of theembodiment of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 19 is a partially cross-sectional partially cutaway elevationfrom the side of the embodiment of FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 20 is a fragmentary partially cutaway elevational view from theside of a modification of the embodim'ent of FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 21 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modification of theembodiment of FIGURE 18.

FIGURE 22 is a detail side elevation of block 16 in FIGURE 1 and membersattached thereto.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown an elevatable rotatablechair comprising a stationary base pedestal member 1 having asubstantially cylindrical outer surface and having a rotatableelevatable cylindrical member 2 extending upwardly therefrom andextending slidably downward thereinto. Attached to the top ofcylindrical member 2 there may be provided a conventional barbers chairor other chair having seat portion 2' and back portion 2". Band 3extends around base pedestal member 1 and the ends of band 3, which maybe tabs 3' extending outwardly as shown, are attached together with bolt4 so that terisioning of bolt 4 attaches the ends of the two bandstogether and provides tension in the band so that the band is heldfirmly attached and relatively immovably attached to the outer surfaceof pedestal 1 by frictional engagement of the inner surface of band 3with the outer surface of member 1. Attached by any suitable means suchas adhesive or welding (not shown for simplicity) there may be providedmember 20 which may be provided with rod 13 slidably received in asubstantially vertical hole therein and may also be provided with abushing, insulating member or grommet 14 through which wire 11 mayextend. Encircling member 2 there may be provided a pair of collectorrings 7 which may be attached to circular supporting member 19 by bolts9. As described below, member 19 and each of members 7 may comprise twomembers, each of which is generally semi-circular in form. One of rings7 is preferably greater in diameter than the other, as shown; they maybe coplanar as shown; their contact surfaces preferably face downward asshown. Supporting member 19 is preferably made of a suitable insulatingmaterial such as a ceramic or preferably hard rubber or plastic and ifdesired may be provided with annular groove or recess 19" between rings'7 and with downwardly extending portions 29 and 29 adjacent its lowerouter edges. Members 29 and 29 serve to prevent accidental contactbetween a user of the device and the surfaces of the collector rings andalso to serve to prevent fallen hair resulting from a barbers operationscoming in contact with the collector rings. They may also serve as aguide in the manner hereinafter described.

Encircling member 2 there may be provided band 5 having ends 5 whichform outwardly extending tabs which are held together by bolt '24.Tightening of bolt 24 causes the ends of band 5 to be held together andcauses the bands to be tensioned and held firmly against tively, othermeans may be used such as have with respect to the axis of member 2.Bolts 6 may extend through slots 8' and connect member 19 to members 8.

Member 19 is preferably provided as two portions or halves, respectively19' and 19", to facilitate its installation around a member such asmember 2. Each of collector rings 7 is preferably correspondinglyprovided in two separate pieces, each of which corresponds to and isattached to one of parts 19' and 19". By reason of slots 8' in members8, member may be attached to a member 2 which has any one of a number ofdifferent diameters without it being necessary that a different member19 (of different size) be used. Thus a member 19 of a single size havingcollector rings 7 of a single size may suitablyebe attached to any oneof a number of diiferent barber chairs wherein the cylindrical portion 2is of different diameter in each.

Wires 1-1' .are connected to collector rings 7 at 18 and extend upwardlyto conventional electrical receptacle outlet 17 which may be attached tothe chair on back 2'? as shown or may be attached at any other suitableplace on the chair.

Rod 13 which extends upwardly from member 20 and is slidably received inmember 20 may be provided at its upper end with 'block member 16 whichmay have an upwardly extending ridge 16 in its center and may beprovided with two brushes or sliding contact members 15. Block 16 ispreferably made of an insulating material and may be made of ceramic orpreferably of hard rubber or plastic. Wires 1-1 which extend upward- -lyfrom member 14 may be connected to brushes or contact strips 15 at 10.Compression spring 12 encircles rod 13' and acts between block 16 andmember 20 to bias block 16 upwardly and thereby to bias members 15 intocontact with contact strips 7. Ridge v16' may be suitably extended intogroove 19' and cause block 16 to be so located with respect to member 19that members 15 suitably contact members 7. If the ridge16' is omittedthe block 16 may suitably be guided by sliding contact between its sidesand flanges 29 and 29'. Wires 11 are preferably coiled as shown.

When in use the device operates by allowing current from any suitablesource to pass operably through wires 11, thence to members 15 which arein contact with members 7, thence through members 7 and through wires11' to outlet 17 where a clipper or any barbering or other instrumentmay be plugged in. When the chair is elevated or lowered'so that member2 moves up or down, the coil of wire 11 respectively lengthens orshortens and rod 13 slides upwardly or downwardly in member 20 whilespring 12 urges block 16 and contact members 15 against contact strips7.

Although certain means are shown for fastening together andtensioningthe ends of bands 3 and 5 respecbeen described heretofore for fasteningtogether the ends of bands which attach the ends of rubber hoses totubes. Such devices may include worm screws acting on worm racks.

One end of each of the bands may extend over the other end of the band.

construction of the device and to provide a structure in which thelikelihood is reduced of hair trimmings coming in contact with thecollector rings or brushes. Member 8" is attached to and extendsoutwardly from memher 5 and collector ring mounting member 39 isattached thereto by bolts 6' which extend through slot 8" in member'S".Collector rings 37 are retained in member 39 by any suitable means (notshown for simplicity) such as by flat headed screws, threadedly engagedin member 39, or adhesive. Collector rings 37 may be retained in member39 by placing the rings in a mold and.

molding member 39 in the mold to provide an integral structure in whichthe rings are molded into member 39.

Member 39 and collector rings 37 may be made in two parts to facilitatethe assembly, asdiscussed in connection with member 19 and brushes 7.

Block 40 is mounted on rod 13 and biased upwardly by spring 12'. Springmembers or spring-like members 42 and 42' are attached thereto withscrews 43 and 43'. Members 42 and 42 serve as brushes and frictionallyengage collector rings 37. Wire-s 44 and 44' are attached to thebrushesand lead into cord 45 which may extend downwardly and outwardly throughblock 40 and may extend to any suitable source of electricity. Correctorientation of block 40 with respect to member 39 is maintained byfrictional engagement of the inner and outer sides of the block with theinner surfaces 36 of downwardly extending portions 35 of member 39.

' I Referring now to FIGURE 4, another modification of means formounting the collector rings and of means for providing contact with thecollector rings may be provided in order to achieve economy in theconstruction of the device and to provide a structure in which thelikelihood is reduced of hair trimmings coming in contact with thecollector rings or brushes. Member 8" is attached to and extendsoutwardly from member 5 and collector ring mounting member 59 isattached thereto by bolts 6 which extend through slot 8" in member 8".Collector rings 57 are retained in member 59 by any suitable means (notshown for simplicity) such as by fiat headed screws, threadedly engagedin member 59, or adhesive. Collector rings 57 may be retained in member59 by placing the rings in a mold and then forming member 59 in the moldto provide an integral structure in which the rings are molded intomember 59. Member 59 and collector rings 57 may be made in two parts tofacilitate installation of the device, as discussed in connection withmember 19 and brushes 7.

Block 60 is mounted on rod 13 and biased upwardly by spring 12'. Springmembers or spring-like members 62and 62 are attached thereto with screws63 and 63. Members 62 and 62' serve as brushes and frictionally engagethe collector rings. Wires 64 and 64' are attached to the brushes andlead into cord 65 which may extend downwardly and outwardly throughblock 60 and may extend to any suitable source of electricity. Correctorientation of block 60 with respect to member 59 is maintained byfrictional engagement of the inner and outer sides of the block with theinner surfaces 56 of downwardly extending portions 55 of member 59.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, another modification of the means formounting the collector rings and of the means for providing contact withthe collector rings may be provided in order to achieve greater economyin the construction of the device and to provide a structure in whichthe likelihood is reduced of hair trimmings coming in contact with thecollector rings or brushes. Collector ring mounting member 79 may besupported in the manner shown for members 39 and 59. Collector rings 77may be retained in member 79 in any suitable manner as discussed inconnection with FIGURES 3 and 4. Member 79 and collector rings 77 may bemade in two parts to facilitate the assembly, as discussed in connectionwith member 19 and brushes 7.

Block 80 is mounted on rod 13" and biased upwardly by spring 12". Springmembers or spring-like members 82 and 82' are attached thereto withscrews 83 and 83; wires 84 and 84 are attached to the brushes and. leadinto cord 85 which extends downwardly and outwardly through block 80 andmay extend to any suitable source of electricity. Correct orientation ofblock 80 with respect to member 79 is maintained by frictionalengagement of the inner and outer sides of the block with the innersurfaces 76 of downwardly extending portions 75 of member 79.

In FIGURE 6, collector ring mounting member 99 may be attached to achair in the manner described hereinbefore in connection with theembodiments of FIG- URES l to 4 and collector rings 97 may be attachedto member 99 in the manner described hereinbefore in connection with theembodiments of FIGURES l to 4. The embodiment of FIGURE 6 provides meansfor containing the collector rings which reduce or eleminate slidingfriction between the collector rings and brushes, thus reducing wear andproviding improved contact. Block 100 is supported on rod 31" and biasedupwardly by spring 12". Spring or spring-like members, which may also bereferred to as brushes, 102 are attached to block 100 by screws 103 andwires attached to each of the brushes lead to a suitable source ofelectricity through cord 105. Brushes 102 are shown as spring brushesbut may be any other brushes. Rotatably mounted on an axle or axle-s 106there are provided wheels 1107. If desired, a single axle or shaft ortwo axles or shafts may be suitably rigidly mounted in block 100, andthe wheels may be rotatably mounted thereon. Alternatively a singleshaft or axle may be provided and may be rotatably mounted in the blockand the wheels may be rigidly attached thereto. In any event, the wheelsare mounted to suitably rotate with respect to the block and are sospaced from the block that brushes 102 are maintained in contact withthe sides of the wheels. Electricity may thus be conducted from thewires leading to the brushes, through the brushes, and thence throughthe wheels to collector rings 97. Suitable orientation of the block withrespect to member 99 is provided by an upper portion of the block whichextends into groove 96 in member 99 and may be suitably shaped toconform to the interior configuration of the groove.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, a device is provided wherein improved contactis made between collector rings and wheels engaging the collector ringswith rolling friction by reason of the contact area being reduced. Thusthe unit pressure on the contacted area is increased where the upwardbiasing force is provided by spring 12 and is thus identical with thatof the embodiment of FIGURE 6. Collector rings 1 17 are mounted in andattached to collector ring mounting member 109* in the mannerhereinbefore described. Block 120 is mounted upon rod 13" and biasedupwardly by spring 12' in the manner hereinbefore described. Brushes 122are are mounted on block 120 with screws 123 in the man ner describedfor brushes 102 in FIGURE 6. Wheels 127 are mounted on axle or shaft 126to rotate with respect to bloclr 120 in the manner described for wheels107 in connection with the embodiment of FIGURE 6, and differ fromwheels 107 principally in being provided with rounded peripheral edges.Brushes 122 may engage with wheels 12-7 in the manner described inconnections with the brushes and wheels of FIGURE 6 so that electricalcurrent may be carried from the wires contained in cord 125 which areattached to the brushes, through the brushes and thence through thewheels tothe collector rings with which the wheels are in engagedrelation, the area of contact between each wheel and its correspondingcollector ring being relatively much smaller in extent than in theembodiment of FIGURE 6 so that contact pressure per unit of contact areais substantially increased.

Referring now to FIGURES 8 and 9, there is shown another embodimentwherein collector rings 137 are mounted in collector-ring -retainingmember 13-9 in any suitable manner such as described hereinbefore, forexample, by reason of being provided as inserts in a mold in which thematerial of member 139 is cast or molded. Means for engaging thecollector rings comprises a principal carriage member 140 and asecondary carriage member 141 pivotally attached thereto by pin 146.Rotatably mounted on pin 14% there is also provided a grooved wheel orsheave 147. At the opposite ends respectively of members 140 and 141,there are provided two additional grooved wheels or sheaves 14-7 and 14respectively mounted to rotate on pins 146' and-146. Members 140 and 141are. urge-d apart from each other by compression spring 148. mountedthereinbetween sothat wheels 147 and 14 are biased outwardly against thecollector rings which they respectively contact. Memers 140, and 141 arepreferably made of insulating material and mounted thereupon there maybe provided brushes 142 and 14-2 which may be attached thereto as shownby screws or bolts 143 and 143' to which wires 144 and 144' may beconnected. The wires may be led into a suitable cord 145, which may havea crosssection shown, in FIGURE 9a. Brushes 14-2 and 142' are mounted tofrictionally engage the sides of wheels 147' and 14-7, so that electriccurrent may be conducted from wires 14 i and 144' through screws andbolts 143 and 143' and thence through rotating wheels 147' and 147" tocollector rings 137.

Referring now to FIGURE 10, member 139 may be attached to rotatableelevatable member 2 as shown and as hereinbefore described.Contact-carrying member or carriage 140' schematically represents thedevice of FIGURES 8 and 9 or of any of the embodiments of FIGURES 12-21.Cord 145' extends therefrom at a relatively acute angle to thehorizontal and schematically represents cord 145 or the comparableelectrical current carrying member of any of the embodiments of FIG-URES 1221. In addition, cord 145' may have the cross-sectionalappearance of cord 145 shown in FIGURE 9a or may be provided with anadditional member to bear tension stress which may be conductive ornonconductive to electricity but need not be connected to carryelectricity. Such an additional tension resisting member alternativelymay be provided externally to cord 145 and may be attached thereto ornot attached thereto. Cord 145' leading downwardly and sidewardly fromcarriage 140' extends substantially once around rotatable member 2 andis fixedly attached to member 1 by any suitable means such as clamp 134.The outer coating or layer of cord 145' is preferably made in whole orin part of a material having a relatively low co-effioient of frictionwith respect to metals, for example, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene orthe like. It may be in the form of a coating of such plastic materialapplied to the exterior of the cord; alternatively an extruded tubing ofsuch material may form the outer layer of the cord or a braided tube offibers of such material or a tube made from fabric woven. from fibers ofsuch material may constitute the outer layer.

If the chair (not shown) and member 2 are rotated counter clockwise(when viewed from above), from the position shown in FIGURE 10, theouter surface of cord 145 will slide on the outer surface of member 2and carriage 140 will. be maintained in place with respect to member 1by the action of cord 145, while traveling along collector rings 137(not shown) in member 139.

If the chair and member 2 are rotated clockwise (when viewed from above)from the position shown in FIGURE 10, carriage 140 will not move withrespect to member 139'. Cord 145' will become more and more slack untilafter rotation of about one turn the device will have the appearanceshown in FIGURE 11. If the chair and member 2 are then rotated foranother turn clockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 11, the cordwill then extend around member 2 in the manner such as outlet 17 on thechair.

In FIGURE 12 there is shown a modified form of the embodiment of FIGURES8 and 9 wherein collector rings 157 are mounted in member 159 and areengaged by wheels 167 which are rotatably mounted on pins 166 whichextend respectively from carriage parts 160 and 161. The carriage partsare urged outwardly from each other by a spring (not shown forsimplicity) as in the embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 9 so that the wheelsare biased apart from each other into contact with the collector rings.Brushes 162 which may be spring-like members are attached with screws163 to carriage parts 160 and 161 respectively which are of insulatingmaterial and electrically conductive wires i164 lead from the brushes towhich they are connected to a suitable source of electrical current. Thedevice has the advantage over that of FIGURES 8 and 9 that the wheelsmay be provided at less cost and the collector rings may be provided atless cost.

In FIGURE 13 there is shown a modified form of the embodiment of FIGURES8 and 9 wherein collector rings 177 are mounted in member 179 and areengaged by wheels 187 which are rotatably mounted on pins 186 whichextend respectively from carriage parts 180 and 181. The carriage partsare urged outwardly from each other by a spring (not shown forsimplicity) as in the embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 9 so that the wheelsare biased apart from each other into contact with the collector rings.Brushes 182 which may be spring-like members are attached with screws183 to carriage parts 180 and 181 respectively which are of insulatingmaterial and electrically conductive wires 184 lead from the brushes towhichthey are connected to a suitable source of elec trical current. Thedevice has the advantage over that of FIGURES 8 and 9 that the wheelsmay be provided,

at less cost than the collector rings may be provided at less cost. 7 e

The device of FIGURE 13 has the advantage over that of FIGURE 12 thatthe wheels are not maintained member 219. Inwardly extending portions216 and 216' may be attached to member 219 by screws as shown. Block 220may be provided with spring-like brushes or collector ring contactingmembers 222 which are attached thereto with screws 223 which alsoconnect wires 224 thereto, Wires 224 may lead to cord 225 which mayextend from block 220 in the manner shown for cord 145 in FIGURES 10 and11.

Referring now to FIGURE 16 there is shown an embodiment wherein gravityis relied on to provide contact pressure between collector rings andwheels which travel in engaged relation with collector rings. Thus,collector rings 237 may be mounted in extending portions 236 of member239 which may be integral as shown or may be attached in the manner ofmembers 196 and 216 in-FIG- URES 14 and 15.

. bodiment wherein gravity is relied on to provide contact place byfrictional engagement with extending portions 7 156 which are shown inFIGURE 12,but are maintained in place by reason of engagement withgrooves in the collector rings so that there is no possibility ofwearing away of plastic portions which might result in possible failureof the device of FIGURE 12, due to such wear of portions -156.

It may be noted with respect to the embodiments of FIGURES 8 and 9, 12and 13, that by forcing the carriage parts together with a personsfingers, the carriage may be downwardly removed from the tracks whichare provided by the collector rings.

As shown in FIGURES Hand 15 devices may be provided for contacting thecollector rings which do not utilize wheels but do utilize the meansshown in FIGURES tend from block 200 in the manner shown for cord 145'in FIGURES 10 and 11.

In FIGURE 15, collectorrings 217 are mounted in ,with respect to thebrushes.

pressure between collector rings and wheels which travel in engagedrelation with collector rings. Thus, collector rings 237 may be mountedin extending portions 236 of member 239 which may be integral as shownor may be attached in the manner of members 196 and 216 in FIGURES 14and 15. Grooved wheels or sheaves 247 are mounted on one or two axles246 in any one of the alternative manners discussed in connection withFIG- URE 6 so that they are rotatably mounted with respect to block 240in which the axle or shaft is or are mounted. Spring-like members 242which may serve as brushes may be attached to block 240 with screws 243.Wires 244, which may be connected to the brushes by said screws, mayextend to cord 245 and thence extend downwardly through a suitable holein the block whereby cord 245 may be operated in the manner describedfor cord in FIGURES 10 and 11. r

' mounted in member 259. Block 260 is provided, having brushes 262extending downwardly therefrom and received in suitable recessesprovided therein-which fit the brushes'relatively closely and cause adesired alignment of the brushes with respect to the block to bemaintained. Within each of the recesses there may be provided a spring268. Springs 268 biasedly urge brushes 262 downwardly with "respect toblock 260; being compression springs, or may be considered to urge block260 upwardly Wires 264 are electrically connected to brushes 262 and arebrought together in cord 265 which acts in the manner of cord 145 andextends to a suitable source of electrical current.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 18 and 19, a modification of the embodimentof FIGURE 16 is provided wherein gravity is not relied upon to ,providecontact pressure between the collector rings and the members whichcontact them but instead a spring is suitably provided to provide suchpressure. Thus referring to FIG- URES 18 and 19, collector rings 277 aresuitably attached to collector ring mounting member 279. Grooved wheelsor sheaves 287 are provided which engage the collector rings in themanner in which railroad wheels engage the tracks of a conventionalrailroad. Thus the wheels may have the shape of conventional railroadcar wheels rather than being grooved as shown. The wheels are suitablymounted on suitable axles or shafts 286 to rotate with respect tobl0ck'280. Spring-like brush members 282 source of electrical current.Also attached to block 280 there is provided a spring 288 having asemicircular shape at its periphery. Thus when cord 285 is caused toextend at a similar angle due to the passage of the cord downwardlythrough an aperture (as shown) in block 280, but despite the fact thatthe block may extend at any one of a number of dilferent angles,suitable and substantially equal contact pressure is provided betweenthe wheels and collector rings at all times due to engagement of someportion of the upper surface of spring 288 with the upper portion ofmember 279.

Referring now to FIGURE 20, there is shown a modification of theembodiment of FIGURES 18 and 19, wherein the carriage has four wheels(only two of which are shown, said two being those which travel on asingle collector ring or the two being those being engaged with the samecollector ring). The carriage or block in the embodiment of FIGURE 20does not tilt in the manner of that in FIGURES 18 and 19, but contactingengagement of the wheels with the collector rings is provided in part byspring pressure, in addition to gravity. Thus as shown in FIGURE 20,collector rings, of which collector ring 297 is one, are mounted in themanner hereinbefore' described in a collector ring mounting member 299.A block orv carriage 300 is provided having suitable shafts, pins oraxles extending therefrom on which there are rotatably'mounted fourwheels, of which wheels 307 and 307' are two on 'one side of thecarriage. In the manner hereinbefore described in connection with otherembodiments such as that of FIGURES 18 and 19, contact members areprovided which frictionally contact the wheels to provide fortransmission of electric current from the wheels through wires 304 whichmay lead through cord 305 to a, suitable source of electrical current.Attached to carriage 300 by any suitable means such as a screw as shown,there may be provided spring 368 which provides additonal contactingpressure between the wheels and the collector rings in additon to thatprovided by gravity.

Referring now to FIGURE 21, there is shown another embodiment wherein amodification of the embodiments of FIGURES 18, 19 and 20 is provided inwhich spring pressure acts against gravity rather than augmentinggravity in order to provide contact pressure between the wheels andcollector rings. Thus collector rings 317 ;are .mounted in collectorring supporting member 31$! having lower extending portions 316 whichmay be integrally provided as shown or may be separte parts which areattached in the manner described in connection with FIGURES 14 and 15.Carriage or block 320 is provided with wheels 327 mounted on axles, pinsor shafts 326 to rotate with respect thereto and'spring-like members 322may be attached to member 320 by any suitable means such as by screws323 as shown to provide sliding frictional electric contact between themand the sides of wheels 327. Wires 324 may be electrically connected tomembers 322 and may lead through a cord 325, which may act in the mannerof cord 145', to a suitable source of electrical current. The springmembers 328 may be mounted on block 320 and may act as cantileversprings (or leaf-springs) with their tips pressing downwardly on theupper surface of portions 316 to bias block 320 and wheels 327 upwardlyagainst collector rings 317.

The cord of all of the embodiments shown may be like the cord of FIGURE9 in that FIGURE 9a may represent a cross-sectional view thereof.

The materials of which the collector ring mounting member may be made ineach of the embodiments described may be as described in connection withthe embodiment of FIGURES l and 2 and likewise the material of which theblock or carriage member may be made in each of the embodiments may beas discussed in con nection with block 16 in the embodiment of FIGURES 1and 2.

It may thus be seen that the invention is broad in 1Q scope and includessuch modifications as will be apparent to those skilled in the art andis to be limited only by the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a chair device which comprises a stationarycylindrical base pedestal, a rotatable elevatable cylindrical member anda chair portion attached to the upper part of said rotatable elevatablecylindrical member: of a device attached to said chair and means tosupply electrical current to said device wherein said means comprises apair of collector rings encircling said rotatable elevatable cylindricalmember and a pair of brushes in contact with said rings, means toresiliently bias said brushes against said rings, a band having two endportions, said band extending around said elevatable rotatable member,said band attached to said member by frictional engagement therewith,said hand held in frictional engagement therewith by tensioning meansattaching said end portions of said band together to provide tension inthe band, a plurality of members extending outwardly from said band intosupporting relationship with said collector rings, another band havingtwo end portions, said other band extending around said cylindrical basepedestal, said other band attached to said cylindrical base pedestal byfrictional engagement therewith, said other band held in frictionalengagement therewith by tensioning means attaching said end portions ofsaid other band together to provide tension in said other band,insulated electrical conductor members insulatedly attached to said bandextending around said cylindrical base pedestal and conductivelyconnected to said brushes, said means to resiliently bias said brushesupwardly against said rings comprising a member extending from andsupported by said second band.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said rings are of the same diameter andone is above the other and said brushes are biased upwardly into contactwith said rings.

3. Means for supplying electrical current to an outlet attached to achair which comprises a rotatable elevatable seat and back portion, astationary cylindrical base pedestal and a rotatable elevatablecylindrical member extending upwardly from said pedestal and supportingsaid seat and back portion, wherein said outlet is attached to said seatand back portion and wherein said means comprises: a pair of collectorrings encircling said elevatable rotatable member, one of said ringsbeing of greater diameter than the other, means attached to saidelevatable rotatable member and extending from said elevatable rotatablemember to support said collector rings, a pair of brushes extending intocontact with said rings, means to resiliently bias said brushes againstsaid rings, a band having two end portions, said band extending aroundsaid pedestal, said band held in frictional engagement with saidpedestal by tensioning means attaching said end portions of said bandtogether to provide tension in the band, insulated electrical conductormembers insulatedly attached to said bands extending around saidpedestal and conductively connected to said brushes, and means extendingfrom said bands to support said brushes.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said collector rings are in the samehorizontal plane and the contact surfaces thereof face downwardly.

5. The device of claim 3 in which said brushes are urged upwardlyagainst said contact strips by a spring loaded in compression.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said collector rings are attached to acircular insulating member, each of said bands and said insulatingmember being divided into two portions on a diametral plane.

7. The device of claim 3 wherein said contact members comprise threerollers hingedly attached to provide a pair of rollers biased laterallyby a spring against one of said rings and the other of said rollersbiased laterally in the opposite direction against the other of saidrings and wherein said contact members are connected respectively toinsulated flexible electrical conductors which extend in draped fashionto said band extending around said pedestal member and which areinsulatedly attached to said band.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said rollers are grooved sheaves.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said rollers are sup- .ported byinwardly extending lips of insulated material below said rings.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein each of said rings is .groo'ved andsaid contact members are supported in place by said rollers being biasedinto said grooves.

11. The device of claim 3 wherein said contact members are brushes andsaid brushes are supported by an insulated block and spring biased awayfrom said block, and said block slides on lips extending inwardly belowsaid collector rings;

12. The device of claim 3 wherein said contact membets are brushes whichare held in place by an insulated block and are spring biased downwardlywith respect to said block against the collector rings, therebysupporting said block above said collector rings, said contact membersbeing connected respectively to insulated flexible electrical conductorswhich extend in draped fashion to said band extending around saidpedestal member and which are insulatedly attached to said band.

13. The device of claim 3 wherein said contact members are rollers whichrotate on a horizontal axis, brushes are biased against said rollers andsaid rollers are biased downwardly by gravity against said collectorrings, said contact members being connected respectively to insulatedflexible'electrical conductors which extend indraped fashion to saidband extending around said pedestal member and which are insulatedlyattached to said band.

14. The device of claim 3 wherein said contact members are rollers whichrotate on a horizontal axis, brushes are biased outwardly against saidrollers and said rollers are spring biased downwardly against saidrings, said contact members being connected respectively to insulatedflexible electrical conductors which extend in draped fashion to saidband extending around said pedestal member and which are insulatedlyattached to said band. 7

15. The device of claim 3 wherein said contact members are rollers whichrotate on a horizontal axis, brushes are biased outwardly against saidrings and said rollers are spring biased upwardly against said rings bysprings which act against lips which extend below said rings, saidcontact members being connected respectively to insulated flexibleelectrical conductors which extend in draped'fash ion to said bandextending around said pedestal member and which are insulatedly attachedto said band.

16. Means for supplying an electrical current to an electricalreceptacle outlet attached to a chair, said chair comprising astationary cylindrical base pedestal member,

a rotatable elevatable cylindrical member and a rotatable elevatableseat and back portion supported by said cylindrical member, said outletattached to a rotatable elevatable portion, wherein said meanscomprises: a first collector ring, a second collector ring larger indiameter than said first collector ring, said collector rings encirclingsaid elevatable rotatable member, each of said rings being attached to acircular supporting member of insulating material which encircles saidcylindrical member, a first brush extending upwardly into electricalcontact with said first collector ring, a second brush extendingupwardly into contact with said second collector ring, said brushesattached to an insulating member, spring means to resiliently bias saidinsulating member upwardly to force said brushes into contact with saidcollector ring, a band having two end portions, said band extendingaround said pedestal member, said ba'nd attached to said member byfrictional engagement therewith, said hand held in frictional engagementtherewith by tensioning means attaching said end portions of said bandtogether to provide tension in the band, insulated electrical conductormembers insulatedly attached to said band extending around said pedestalmember and conductively connected to said brushes, means attached tosaid band to support said spring means which resiliently biases saidinsulating member.

17. The device of claim 16 characterized by the outer of said ringsbeing higher than the inner of said rings 'to provide improvedelectrical ins'ulative spacing thereinbetween.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the inner of said rings is higherthan the outer of said rings to provide improved electrical insulativespacing thereinbetween.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein each of said contact members is aroller, and a brush is provided in sliding contact with each of saidrollers, said rollers being biased upwardly against said rings and saidbrushes being biased outwardly against said rollers.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein each of said rings is a portion of aconic surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,347,970 7/ 1920Overstreet 3395 1,651,266 11/ 1927 Fortier 339-5 2,453,073 11/1948 Jones1 3395 2,543,740 2/1951 Ridgely et al. 339-251 X 2,575,409 l1/195lCooper et al 3395 2,586,595 2/1952 Ashby 339-5 3,112,971 12/1963 Eck3395 JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

3. MEANS FOR SUPPLYING ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO AN OUTLET ATTACHED TO ACHAIR WHICH COMPRISES A ROTATABLE ELEVATABLE SEAT AND BACK PORTION, ASTATIONARY CYLINDRICAL BASE PEDESTAL AND A ROTATABLE ELEVATABLECYLINDRICAL MEMBER EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID PEDESTAL AND SUPPORTINGSAID SEAT AND BACK PORTION, WHEREIN SAID OUTLET IS ATTACHED TO SAID SEATAND BACK PORTION AND WHEREIN SAID MEANS COMPRISES: A PAIR OF COLLECTORRINGS ENCIRCLING SAID ELEVATABLE ROTATABLE MEMBER, ONE OF SAID RINGSBEING OF GREATER DIAMETER THAN THE OTHER, MEANS ATTACHED TO SAIDELEVATABLE ROTATABLE MEMBER AND EXTENDING FROM SAID ELEVATABLE ROTATABLEMEMBER TO SUPPORT SAID COLLECTOR RINGS, A PAIR OF BRUSHES EXTENDING INTOCONTACT WITH SAID RINGS, MEANS TO RESILIENTLY BIAS SAID BRUSHES AGAINSTSAID RINGS, A BAND HAVING TWO END PORTIONS, SAID BAND EXTENDING AROUNDSAID PEDESTAL, SAID BAND HELD IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAIDPEDESTAL BY TENSIONING MEANS ATTACHING SAID END PORTIONS OF SAID BANDTOGETHER TO PROVIDE TENSION IN THE BAND, INSULATED